Chill's candlelight and sidewalk seating can also entice. Inside, retro lounge furniture sits on a restored terrazzo floor near the bar on one side, while more formal feeling table seating is on the other side. Lighted orbs hanging above the bar and atom-shaped chandeliers mix in a contemporary flair. Crow calls it a "deco glam lounge with mid-century modern twist."

He offers about 45 wines by the glass or bottle, mostly organized by the grape varietal, such as Prime Cellars' District 4 chardonnay ($12, glass; $44, bottle) and District 4 cabernet sauvignon ($14, glass; $52, bottle). A few craft beers offer an alternative, such as Milk Stout by Left Hand Brewing ($7) or Jai Alai IPA by Cigar City Brewing ($5).

"Wine is a language, and some can speak it fluently and others can't," says Crow. "However, my belief is that similar to foreign travel, the inability to speak a language fluently shouldn't prohibit you from the enjoyment of travel any more than the inability to speak the language of wine should prohibit you from all it has to offer."

Nibbles such as dips and charcuterie boards are planned, pending food licensing, and musicians perform jazz, blues, torch, standards and modern numbers during the weekend with the possibility of an additional weeknight.

Favorites are shawarma ($6.99), gyro ($6.99), chicken wings ($7.95) and calzones ($8.99 to $10.99) with traditional entrees rounding out the choices, such as lasagna ($9.99) and chicken parmigiana ($9.99).

"We will have the best pita bread around in the area," she says. "Also our pizza has a secret recipe that makes it taste different than many other pizza restaurants. In addition, our meat products will be 100 percent halal meat and healthy, which gives us the advantage to have a different kind of service that not too many in the area provide."

Nabeel Herzalla is a software engineer trying a new venture with her brother, who has more than 20 years of food-industry experience and owned several restaurants in North Florida.

Connoisseurs and newbies will mingle at this $40 event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 21. It's one in an annual series by the American Fine Wine Competition.

Sponsors and charities will lead guests in wine-inspired games such as "ring the wine bottle" and "toss the cork." Twelve guests will be selected to compete in a blind tasting to identify 10 glasses of wine for the grand prize of two tickets to the April 4 gala (a $600 value) at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, where the winning wines from the American Fine Wine Competition will be featured.

Total Wine will provide more than 25 wines for sampling during the Wine Carnival, and local restaurants will serve hors d'oeuvres. Proceeds will benefit the Diabetes Research Institute.

Brio Tuscan Grille

550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach, 561-835-1511, BrioItalian.com

CityPlace is expecting to welcome yet another new restaurant Feb. 21, this time across from Macy's in the former White House/Black Market.

The decor and cuisine of grilled and roasted meats, fish and pastas will match the other locations of this national upscale northern Italian chain, along with the usual attractive terrace seating. Hardwood cypress flooring, arched colonnades, Italian mosaics, antique doors, Venetian-plaster walls, marble imported from Italy and wrought-iron chandeliers are reminiscent of a Tuscan villa.

The mainstays will be here, such as Chicken Under the Brick with marsala sauce ($20.15), gorgonzola-crusted steak (8-ounce filet, $28.95; 14-ounce strip, $27.95) and lobster and shrimp fettuccine ($20.95), but you'll also find the chain's new Lighter Side menu with calorie counts. The 18 selections, ranging from $4.95 to $19.95, are either new creations or modifications.

"Millions of Americans are watching what they eat. We want our guests to feel confident that they have options when dining with us," said marketing director Nicole Roope in a press release.

Finding a good hamburger in South Florida has never been easier. Start at Georgie's Alibi, a favorite with the Riverwalk Burger Battle. Next up would be BurgerFi, the ever-growing local chain where each restaurant is built according to environmentally sustainable best practices. Don't forget...

By John Tanasychuk, SouthFlorida.com Here are six spots that take the guesswork out of restaurant meals. Four are exclusively vegan or vegetarian. Canyon Ranch Grill and Farmer's Table serve meat, but only lean, top-quality cuts.

By John Tanasychuk, SouthFlorida.com One of these years, the National Football League will realize that Super Bowl Sunday is really Chicken Wing Sunday. This year, 1.25 billion chicken wings will be consumed on that day, according to the National Chicken Council. Nearly two-thirds (65...